New year brings renewed optimism for Worcester

Hours before arrival of the new year, City Manager Michael V. O'Brien predicted that 2013 would be the biggest year yet for Worcester.

And, he wasn't alone with that sentiment.

At the “Opening of Front Street” ceremony Monday afternoon, the city manager made his bold declaration. In a quieter moment (if there is such a thing with power-pop blaring over loudspeakers in the background), Mr. O'Brien revealed a personal resolution for himself, even though he acknowledged that he would probably break it within a few weeks.

“I'm going to try to take every Sunday off,” Mr. O'Brien said. “I've got to spend more time with the family.”

As for Worcester, Mr. O'Brien said, “I see this year being special for all of us. People are really recognizing all the strengths of Worcester with great progress, really to a point that is going to surprise many.”

Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes predicts that Worcester is going to become a “physically attractive city” in 2013 that is going to attract more people.

“I think we're going to see a new kind of redevelopment in Worcester,” she said. “We're going to take our older buildings, respect them and recycle them to new usage. We're going to have architectural oversight so that any new buildings that are developed are going to respect the history of Worcester.”

As for New Year's resolutions, Mrs. Lukes had plenty of them. She rattled them off at breakneck speed.

“I hope the City Council reads the reports of The Research Bureau before they criticize them. We're going to bill the EPA for disturbing (Department of Public Works and Parks Commissioner) Bob Moylan's peace,” Mrs. Lukes said. “We're going to permanently close all the police chief's Twitter accounts.”

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray said he hopes to shed a few holiday pounds and see Worcester grow to well over 200,000 people and be one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty said his New Year's resolution is to keep the momentum going for the city and he predicts that we are going to see a lot more worthwhile projects being announced in 2013.

“My New Year's resolution is to really keep the momentum going as the mayor,” Mr. Petty said, “and make sure that we're all working together as a team, whether it be government, business, nonprofits, and we get the job done for the people of Worcester.”

State Rep. John J. Mahoney, D-Worcester, who said he had no personal resolution to share, also predicts that the positive strides for redevelopment in the city will continue.

“We've done incredible things,” Mr. Mahoney said. “Just looking around from when we were kids going here to The Dream Machine and Papa Gino's. It has changed incredibly. It's all positive. It's all good.”

While he shared well-wishes of happiness and good health to all, Stewart Herman hopes to find one thing waiting for him in the New Year — a job.